opinion ‘Vintage Belmont,’ proclaimed one of the webcasters after the Long Beach team recovered from an 18-0 deficit to win the Super League championship Saturday.
Well, yes and no. Unbeaten over multiple regular seasons and playing in its sixth straight title game, Belmont obviously has notched a few comeback wins.
But it hasn’t been nearly so proficient in the finals, dropping three of five before this year’s contest. Perhaps the worst setback was 2006’s heartbreaker to archrival OMBAC, a game that should have been won.
For most of Saturday’s match, the Chicago Lions looked set to make it four of six. But Francois Viljoen’s XV showed great poise down the stretch, twice electing penalty kicks though still trailing by seven, confident there was time left to score the winning try.
Viljoen’s assuredness in the match-winning break was remarkable in itself. Though he has played flyhalf for Washington and more recently as a fill-in for injured Eagle teammates, the 26-year-old normally enters the line from fullback. And the pivotal try followed his botching a penalty goal that would have drawn the contest to within one.
Rising off the mat to land the championship fight’s knockout blow is not something Belmont is known for. The 2007 title reflects well on that group of veterans which has resisted 'Atlanta Braves/Buffalo Bills syndrome,' as well as first-year coach Jonnie Cox.
It will be interesting to see how the Lions respond to the narrow loss ending the club’s best-ever season.
Four wins, four losses in championship games during the 11 seasons of Super League play.
Something tells me that Bobby Cox and the Braves would take that one to the bank. ;)
Posted by: Joe McGlinchey | 14 June 2007 at 20:13
I agree. Belmont is the most consistent team in US Rugby.
It is also a testament to the RSL that most of the championship games have been won by a few points and with dramatic conclusions.
I do not believe that Belmont has ever been beaten by more than 11 points in a final (Aspen). Aspen, on the other hand, has lost by more than 11.
Kurt are we really saying that Belmont is deficient because it hasn't won all of its title bouts? RSL playoffs and finals competition has proven to be more like the NCAA Big dance than the Super Bowl. It has been exciting and turned on close match ups, rather than blow outs.
I see the Belmont performance over the life of the RSL as standing for two propositions.
One, Belmont has been the most consistent team in US Rugby.
Two, the RSL may not deliver a great game every time (neither does the NFL, MLB, NHL or NBA), but the championship has been exciting rugby to be proud of, has been on an upward trajectory ever since the inception of the RSL and the RSL deserves some credit and praise for putting on a good championship and playoff.
Just anecdotally, I forwarded the live internet telecast link for the game to some Western Force supporters in Australia and they were surprised we even had rugby and that we had that level of rugby after they saw the match.
Last year's match was equally exciting, even though as a Belmont Old Boy it was heartbreaking.
But isn't that type of game, exactly that type of game, that makes sport great.
Quite honestly, the RSL match was a better match to watch than the Cal/BYU 37-7 match.
Nothing against Cal or BYU, but the RSL match was a better game to watch as a fan.
There is more parity in the RSL as a structured competition of partners, and though Belmont has been able to be consistent, they can't get the planets to align each and every time because of parity.
This means the competition is better overall in my eyes.
Not to get off topic, but it might also be a testament to Belmont that aside from Kurt and myself, no one feels they can speak their mind without hiding behind an alias on this site.
I think there are a few others who use their real names,I am sorry they don't come to mind, but it is an exception rather than the rule.
Posted by: Rafael Zahralddin | 27 June 2007 at 10:54